Swimming fin with heel strap fastening buckle

ABSTRACT

A swimming fin comprising a blade extending from a shoe open at its rear side and with a rear heel strap connected at the sides of the shoe by at least one buckle, said buckle comprising a base plate integral with the shoe, a buckle arm connected to the strap so as to allow adjustment of its tension and an intermediate lever connected pivotally to the base plate and to the arm, reversible attachment means also being provided for connecting the intermediate lever to the base plate to achieve closure of the buckle. Between the intermediate lever and the base plate disengageable articulation means are provided, for achieving reciprocal engaging between them and a pivotal connection and, at the same time, allowing their separation in the direction opposite to that of tensioning of the strap. In this way, the intermediate lever can be separated from the base plate following release of the attachment means and disconnection of the disengageable articulation means.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of fins for swimming and underwater activities in general and more particularly relates to a swimming fin of the open shoe type with a heel strap for fastening the fin to the foot of the user connected to the sides of the shoe by means of at least one attachment buckle, and preferably a pair of attachment buckles, by which the tension of the strap can also be adjusted according to the needs of the user.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

A buckle for swimming fins of the type mentioned above is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,383. The buckle according to this patent is made up of two parts, a first part connected to the side of the shoe and the other to the strap, which snap engage one with the other. This type of buckle has the main disadvantage of requiring adjustment of the strap tension whenever the fin is put on, in that the strap has necessarily to be loosened. to enable the user to put on the fin.

A buckle for swimming fins that can be opened without separating it into two separate parts is described in European patent No. 687484 that is inspired by prior solutions already in use in the field of sports equipment. According to this patent the part of the buckle integral with the side of the shoe and the part attached to the end of the strap are articulated to each other via a connection lever that allows the buckle part connected to the strap to be moved from a position of attachment on the buckle part connected to the side of the shoe, at which the strap tightens the foot of the user at the rear, to a position of disengagement wherein the buckle part whereto the strap is attached is moved backwards in relation to the fixed part, eliminating the tension of the strap and thus allowing the user to put the fin on or take it off. With this system it is not possible to separate the parts that make up the buckle, and therefore it is not possible to separate the strap from the fin. Consequently, a first disadvantage of this known device consists in that the user, in order to take the fin off, albeit with the strap loosened, must always remove it from the foot: i.e. it is necessary to make the loosened strap pass behind the heel, with the aid if necessary, of his/her hand, which may delay the operation in emergency conditions.

In the buckle described in the aforementioned European patent the buckle part connected to the strap is attached to the buckle part integral with the shoe by means of a snap connection, both during the opening phase and the closure phase, between the intermediate articulation lever and a pair of side flanges rising up from the buckle part integral with the shoe. In order to open the buckle the user has to push the free end of the lever outwards.

A second disadvantage of this device consists in that such a closure system is not totally safe, in that the opening movement may also be caused accidentally in the case of impact or in the case wherein the free end of the lever tangles in some external projection.

A third disadvantage of this device consists in that, after having worn the fin and closed the buckle, the tension of the strap can be increased but not decreased. With the fin on, the strap provides a tight length adhering to the foot and a free end which can be grasped and pulled to increase the tension of the strap. In order to loosen the tension a few fingers have to be inserted between the foot of the user and the tight strap, which is anything but easy. Therefore, in order to loosen a strap which, once worn, would appear too tight, the strap has to be opened and the adjustment operation repeated.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a swimming fin with a heel strap fastening buckle which allows the disadvantages stated above to be avoided.

A particular object of the present invention is to provide a swimming fin with heel strap fastening buckle that allows the foot to be removed from the shoe, and therefore from the fin, without the need to have to push the loosened strap under the heel.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a swimming fin of the aforementioned type which does not have the risk of accidental opening of the buckle, for example due to an impact, in that the opening of the buckle and its disengagement from the fin require the user to actuate at least one fastening device, acting as a safety actuator.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a swimming fin with a heel strap fastening buckle of the type mentioned above wherein it is possible to loosen the strap without opening the buckle by partially rotating a buckle element connected to the strap.

These objects are achieved with the swimming fin with a heel strap fastening buckle according to the present invention, said buckle comprising a base plate integral with the shoe, an arm connected to the strap to enable an user to adjust the tension thereof and an intermediate lever pivotally connected to the base plate and to said arm, reversible attachment means being also provided for hooking said intermediate lever to said base plate to achieve closure of the buckle. According to the invention, between the intermediate lever and the base plate disengageable articulation means are provided, for creating reciprocal engagement between them and the pivotal connection and, at the same time, allowing their separation in the direction opposite that of tensioning of the strap, so that the intermediate lever can be separated from the base plate following release of the attachment means and the disconnection of the disengageable articulation means.

The disengageable articulation means preferably comprise at least one cavity with an at least partly circular internal profile formed on at least one shoulder rising up from the base plate, said cavity being closed at the side turned towards the arm connected to the strap and open at the opposite side, and at least one projection of the intermediate lever for engaging in said cavity and having a complementary shape to allow reciprocal rotation. In particular, two opposite housings are provided wherein corresponding end portions of the lever pivotally engage, these housings being open at one of their sides, so that the lever end portions can be withdrawn therefrom to separate the lever from the base plate.

The means for reversible attachment of the intermediate lever to the base plate preferably comprise at least one first connection element provided on the intermediate lever, which can be snap engaged, during closure, with at least one second complementary connection element formed in the thickness of the base plate. At least one pushbutton, which can be actuated by the user to release the buckle, is provided on the first connection element placed on said lever. In particular the attachment means comprise two hook arms projecting from a face of the lever and elastically urging against each other, while on the base plate at least one window and two opposite, internally projecting teeth are correspondingly provided, said hook arms snap engaging thereon.

The hook arms extend from respective pushbuttons between which elastic means are placed for keeping them in a sideways projecting position from the lever. In this position the hook arms are engaged on the teeth of the base plate, while the pushbuttons slide one towards the other transversely to the lever, whereby when the pushbuttons are pressed with the fingers of one hand to overcome the resistance of the elastic means placed between them, it is possible to move the hook arms away from the respective teeth and release the buckle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and/or advantages of the swimming fin with a heel strap fastening buckle according to the present invention will be made clearer by the following description of one of its embodiments, given by way of a non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a swimming fin according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the buckle with which the fin according to the invention is provided, in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is a partial and longitudinal sectional view of the buckle of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partially sectional plan view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 5 of the base plate of the buckle, integral with the fin;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the base plate of the buckle taken along line V-V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a section of the base plate of the buckle taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is in a plan view of an intermediate lever of the buckle mounted on the swimming fin according to the invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the intermediate lever of FIG. 7 taken along line VIII-VIII;

FIG. 9 is a partially sectional side view of the lever of FIG. 7 taken along line IX-IX;

FIG. 10 is a partial and enlarged longitudinal section of the arm of the buckle integral with the strap;

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal and partially sectional view the buckle according to the invention in the position in which, when the buckle is closed, it is possible to rotate partially the buckle arm connected to the strap to loosen it; the arm in the normal working position in a closed position is indicated by a dotted line;

FIG. 12 shows the buckle according to the invention in a partial and longitudinal section in its first phase of opening;

FIG. 13 shows the second phase of opening of the buckle with the intermediate lever and with the buckle arm integral with the strap released from the base plate integral with the shoe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, it has been indicated at 1 a swimming fin comprising, as usual, a blade 2 extending from a shoe 3 of the type open at the rear end and provided with a heel strap 4 for securing the fin to an user foot. The ends of the strap 4 are connected to respective buckles, denoted generically by 5, attached externally to the sides of the shoe 3.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the buckle 5 comprises a base plate 6 integral with one side of the shoe 3, an intermediate lever 7 that can be connected reversibly to the base plate 6 at its front end and articulated to the same base plate at its rear end, and a buckle arm 8 hinged with its front end in an intermediate point of the lever 7 and connected to the strap 4 that extends from its opposite end. The axes of hinging of the lever 7 to the base plate 6 and of the arm 8 to the lever 7, denoted by X and Y respectively in FIG. 2, are parallel. The terms “front” and “rear” refer to the relative position of the fin in relation to the foot of the user.

The base plate 6 is attached to the side of the shoe 3 by means of a pin 9 with a butterfly-shaped flange which can be engaged, rotated through 90° in relation to its working position, in a seat 10 correspondingly shaped to allow its anchorage to the base plate 6 and its disengagement therefrom by rotation through 90°. A further stop pin 11, which can be locked with a special tool, prevents rotation of the base plate from its working position. Stop pin 11 and pin 9 extend from the same face of the base plate 6. Stop pin 11 engages in a corresponding seat formed on the side of the shoe 3.

Referring also to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, from the opposite face of the base plate 6 two opposite side shoulders 12 and 13 rise up. Each shoulder defines, on its internal side, a housing 14 turned towards the other shoulder with a profile that is at least partially circular, closed at its rear side, i.e. towards the arm 8, and open at its front side. At the two housings 14 two windows 15 are formed on the base plate with the purpose of facilitating engaging and disengaging of the intermediate lever. On the plate 6 two further windows 16 are formed in which respective opposite teeth 17 project whose function will be described herein below.

Referring to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the lever 7 is formed by a front body 7 a from whose sides two arms 18 extend rearwards with respective expansions 18 a having a circular shape at their ends. The circular expansions 18 a engage in the housings 14, as shown in FIG. 3, allowing rotation of the lever 7 in relation to the base plate 6, in the manner shown in FIG. 12.

Due to the fact that the housings 14 have the front side open, the circular expansions 18 a freely engage in the housings 14 whereby the lever 7 can be separated from the base plate 6 as will be described herein below.

Near the opposite end with respect to the circular expansions 18 a the lever 7 has a pair of pushbuttons 19 projecting laterally from opposite sides of the body 7 a and sliding transversely. Two hook arms 20 extend from the two pushbuttons towards the base plate 6 for engaging with the teeth 17 projecting in the windows 16 of the base plate 6, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. As shown in FIG. 8, a spring 21 is placed between the two pushbuttons 19 and extends transversely in a seat of the body 7 a to keep them in an externally projecting position. In this condition the hook arms 20 are engaged with the teeth 17, whereby the lever 7 is firmly connected to the base plate 6. By pressing simultaneously the two pushbuttons 19 with the fingers of one hand in the direction of arrows F of FIG. 8 to push them one towards the other, the elastic resistance of the spring 21 is overcome and the hook arms 20 are caused to disengage from the teeth 17 and the intermediate lever 7 is released from the base plate 6. The intermediate lever 7 can then take up the position shown in FIG. 12. In the subsequent position, shown in FIG. 13, the buckle is completely open and disengaged from the fin.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 10, the arm 8 for connection to the strap is formed at its rear side by a substantially box-shaped portion 8 a, in which one end of the strap 4 engages, and by a wing 22 extending from its opposite end between the arms 18 of the lever 7 and articulated to the lever 7 through a pin 23. As shown in FIG. 10, the strap 4 is engaged as usual in the box-shaped portion 8 a of the arm 8, in particular being wound on a transverse pin 24 placed therein. The box-shaped portion 8 a also comprises a pushbutton 25 hinged on a second transverse pin 26 also placed in the box-shaped portion 8 a. A tooth 27 extends from the internal face of the pushbutton 25 to engage between the ribs of the strap 4 allowing the locking thereof in the required position, while on the diametrically opposite side between the pushbutton 25 and the box-shaped portion 8 a a spring 28 is placed to force the tooth 27 against the strap 4 and prevent sliding of the strap. The state of tension of the strap 4 is adjusted as usual by pressing the pushbutton 25 in the direction of the arrow F1 so as to overcome the elastic resistance of the spring 28 and disengage the tooth 27 from the transverse ribs of the strap 4, which can therefore be slid freely around the transverse pin 24 to loosen it or tensioning it. It should in fact be noted that in the position of the arm 8 shown in FIG. 11 the buckle remains integral with the fin; nevertheless it is possible to loosen the strap.

FIGS. 3, 12 and 13 show how the buckle mounted on the fin of the invention works, when the buckle is to be opened without altering the tension of the strap. In particular, it is noted that in order to change from the condition shown in FIG. 3, wherein the buckle is closed and the lever 7 is connected to the base plate 6, to that shown in FIG. 12, wherein the lever 7 has been released from the base plate 6 by disengaging the hook arms 20 from the respective teeth 17 of the base plate 6, it is necessary to press the pushbuttons 19 with two fingers of the same hand. In FIG. 12 the intermediate lever 7 is released at its front end from the base plate, but is still articulated to the latter at its rear end; by disengaging the circular expansions 18 a of the arms 18 of the lever 7 from the housings 14 of the base plate 6 the buckle is completely opened as shown in FIG. 13. It will be noted that, although the articulation between the base plate 6 and the lever 7 through the circular expansions 18 a engaged in the housings 14 is an unrestrained connection, this would in any case be ensured by the state of tension of the strap 4 which, in the conditions of FIG. 3, in fact prevents disengaging from the housing 14 except in the case of accidental impact which could bring the intermediate lever 7 into the position shown in FIG. 12. According to the invention this risk is avoided with the reversible attachment device formed by all the elements 17, 19, 20 and 21, which can only be opened deliberately by the user.

Variations and/or changes may be made to the swimming fin with heel strap fastening buckle according to the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. For example, the reversible attachment means, formed by the elements 17, 19, 20 and 21 that can be actuated with two fingers of the same hand via the opposite pushbuttons 19, acting as safety means, can be replaced by a single pushbutton placed transversely or in the front central part of the lever 7 and in any case in a position protected against accidental impacts. 

1. A swimming fin having a blade extending from a shoe open at its rear side and with a rear heel strap connected to the sides of the shoe by at least one buckle, the buckle comprising a base plate integral with the shoe, a buckle arm connected to the strap so as to allow adjustment of its tension, an intermediate lever connected pivotally to the base plate and to the arm, a reversible attachment member for connecting the intermediate lever to the base plate to achieve closure of the buckle, and a disengageable articulation member, between the intermediate lever and the base plate, for achieving reciprocal engagement between them, a pivotal connection and, at the same time, allowing their separation in a direction opposite that of tensioning of the strap, whereby the intermediate lever is separable from the base plate following release of the reversible attachment member and disconnection of the disengageable articulation member.
 2. The swimming fin set forth in claim 1, wherein the disengageable articulation member comprises at least one cavity with an at least partly circular internal profile, formed on at least one shoulder rising from the base plate, the cavity being closed on the side turned towards the arm connected to the strap and open on the opposite side, and at least one projection of the intermediate lever for engaging the cavity and having a complementary shape for allowing reciprocal rotation.
 3. The swimming fin to set forth in claim 2, wherein a plurality of opposing housings rise from the base plate with which corresponding end portions of the lever pivotally engage, the housings being open on one of their sides, whereby the end portions can be withdrawn from the housings to separate the lever from the base plate.
 4. The swimming fin to set forth in claim 1, wherein the member for reversible attachment of the intermediate lever to the base plate comprises at least one first connection element on the intermediate lever, which can be snap engaged, to close the buckle, with at least one second complementary connection element formed in the thickness of the base plate, the at least one first connection element formed on the lever being provided with at least one push-button which can be actuated by the user to open the buckle.
 5. The swimming fin to set forth in claim 1, wherein the member for reversible attachment of the intermediate lever to the base plate comprises first connection elements on the lever that can be snap engaged, when closing the buckle, with second complementary closure elements formed in the thickness of the base plate, the first connection elements having push-buttons on laterally opposing sides of the lever, that can be actuated by the user to cause their disengagement, when opening the buckle, from the second connection elements.
 6. The swimming fin set forth in claim 1, wherein the member for reversibly attaching the lever to the base plate comprises a plurality of hook arms projecting from one of its faces and elastically urged one against the other, at least one window and at least two opposing teeth, projecting internally from an edge of the window, correspondingly formed on the base plate, and the hook arms snap engaging the opposing teeth.
 7. The swimming fin set forth in claim 6, wherein the hook arms extend from respective push-buttons and an elastic member is provided therebetween for maintaining them in a generally sideways projecting position relative to the lever, wherein at such position the hook arms are engaged with the teeth, the push-buttons sliding one towards the other generally transverse to the lever, whereby when the push-buttons are pressed by fingers of one hand of the user to overcome resistance of the elastic member placed between them, the hook arms are moveable away from the teeth so as to release the buckle.
 8. The swimming fin set forth in claim 3, wherein the lever is formed by a lever body with two arms extending therefrom, the ends of the arms pivotally engaging the housings, and the lever being pivotally connected at an intermediate position to one end of the arm for connection to the strap.
 9. The swimming fin to set forth in claim 8, wherein the push-buttons are located near an end of the lever opposite the arms.
 10. The swimming fin to set forth in claim 3, wherein at the opposite housings a plurality of windows are formed on the base plate.
 11. The swimming fin to set forth in claim 1, wherein the base plate is connected to the shoe by a butterfly-shaped flanged pin engaged with a complementary seat formed on one side of the shoe, the orientation of the complementary housing being rotated through 90° relation relative to the working position of pin.
 12. The swimming fin set forth in claim 1, wherein the arm for connection to the strap comprises a box-shaped body with an internal transverse pin on which the strap is wound, having a push-button hinged to the box-shaped body, and having an end resting on an elastic support, the diametrically opposing end of the push-button being shaped in such a way as to engage between a plurality of consecutive transverse surface ribs of the strap to prevent sliding thereof. 